In Kabul’s Valley of Death, hints of security woes

KABUL — At an intersection of a deadly road, Afghan security forces stand watch. They peek into vehicles, stare suspiciously at anyone running across the street. They are on alert for suicide bombers, the sort that have inspired Afghans to dub the road and the surrounding area “The Valley of Death.”
“This is the bloodiest road,” said Khasar, 28, a vegetable seller who, like many Afghans, uses one name. He stood in his stall across from the Green Village, a heavily guarded compound for foreign contractors that has been attacked several times.
An afternoon spent along a particularly violent stretch of the route — the Kabul-Jalalabad Road — helps illustrate the challenges in securing this capital city, as most U.S. and international forces prepare to withdraw by the end of this month. Here, it’s difficult to distinguish the enemy from local residents, and the targeting of foreigners is fueled by perceptions they are engaged in nefarious activities.
Over the past three weeks, Kabul has been rocked by an unprecedented series of Taliban attacks. That has instilled fear in Afghans and foreigners, convincing many to leave the capital temporarily or make exit plans in case the situation gets worse.
But in the Valley of Death, life goes on, highlighting the resilience of ordinary Afghans. Their attitude is reminiscent of the way Iraqis responded to the relentless suicide attacks and car bombings that occurred in Baghdad for years. After every assault, they would clean up the shattered glass, remove the mangled cars and continue on with their lives. Along the Kabul-Jalalabad road, many Afghans have done the same.  Read More at Washington Post